How Titans are preparing for Patriots' Rob Gronkowski

The Tennessee Titans will be facing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Saturday. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has been targeted as one of the future stars of the NFL.
Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) scores a touchdown against the Titans in the first quarter of New England's 33-16 victory on Dec. 20, 2015, at Gillette Stadium.(Photo11: David Butler II / USA TODAY Sports)

How in the world are the Titans preparing to face Patriots superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski, one of the greatest at his position in NFL history, when the teams meet in the AFC divisional playoffs on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium?

The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder led all NFL tight ends with 1,084 receiving yards this season, finishing first at his position for the fourth time in his career. He caught eight touchdowns.

“It’s like the high school basketball coach that’s going up against the 7-foot center and the tallest guy on his team is 6-2,” Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. “He gets one of them and stands them up on a chair so when you’re shooting you get used to seeing a guy up there 8 foot in the air.

“You’re not going to duplicate (Tom) Brady and Gronkowski, so you show them a lot of video and make sure you’re where you need to be on the practice field and then play football, in this case on Saturday.”

New England Patriots fan Brian Claire bundles up his son Nolan, 10, prior to the start of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. John Partipilo / The Tennessean

New England Patriots fan John Wardwell tries to stay warm prior to the start of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. John Partipilo / The Tennessean

John Guarino serves up a cup of chowder at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., before the start of the AFC Divisional Playoff game between New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans Jan. 10, 2004. Guarino said that the chowder was over 140 degrees and was serving it to raise money for the Woonsocket High School soccer team in Woonsocket, RI. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans receiver Drew Bennett takes the field as the thermometer reaches 2 degrees at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., for the AFC Divisional Playoff game against New England Patriots Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans fan Jerome Dubois of Watertown, Tenn., cheers on his team prior to the start of the game against New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans fan Stephanie Daughtery cheers on her team as they warm up at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., against New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoff game Jan. 10, 2004. Daughtery came all the way from San Diego to watch the game. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

New England Patriot Bethel Johnson (81) catches a touchdown pass against Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004 for the first score of the game. Stephan Savoia / AP Photo

Tennessee Titans receiver Derrick Mason (85) is being tackle by the New England Patriots defender Eugene Wilson (26) during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxboroughh, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans star running back Eddie George is getting tackle by the New England Patriots defenders Tedy Bruschi (54) and Roman Phifer (95) during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison is intercepting a pass intended for Tennessee Titans tight end Shad Meier during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

New England Patriots tight end Christian Fauria and an official signals teammate Antowain Smith's touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Charles Krupa / AP Photo

Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George (27) heads up the field against the New England Patriots during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks downfield for a receiver against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Jim Rogash / AP Photo

New England Patriots running back Antowain Smith (32) is being pull down by Tennessee Titans defenders Tank Williams (25) and Scott McGarrahan (42) during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair running out of the pocket as he attempts to throw against the New England Patriots during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Winslow Townson / AP Photo

Tennessee Titans receiver Derrick Mason (85) is being push out of bounds by the New England Patriots defender Eugene Wilson (26) during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. John Partipilo / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans' Shad Meier (84) is being tackle by the New England Patriots' Dan Kiecko after he recovers his kicker Gary Anderson's blocked field goal attempt during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

The Tennessee Titans offensive line and the New England Patriots defensive line line up during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher watches his team play the New England Patriots during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Charles Krupa / AP Photo

Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George (27) is being pull down by a New England Patriots defender after knocking over Tedy Bruschi (54) during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxboro, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans receiver Tyrone Calico (87) is catching a pass against New England Patriots during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans receiver Tyrone Calico (87) is catching a pass against New England Patriots during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans receiver Justin McCareins (86) is heading up the field after catching a pass as New England Patriots defender Roman Phifer moves in during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans receiver Derrick Mason gets hit by New England Patriots defender Tyrone Poole at the goal line for a touchdown pass reception during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. John Partipilo / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, center, talks with Keith Bullock (53) and other members of the defense about stopping the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse exhales while sitting on the bench as the office faces New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates his field goal for a 17-14 lead against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 10, 2004. Winslow Townson / AP Photo

New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri is being congratulated by teammates after kicking the field goal for a 17-14 lead against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, right, argues with a referee during the game against New England Patriots late in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 10, 2004. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, left, talks with his receiver Drew Bennett on the bench after Bennett missed the a first down pass near the end of their 17-14 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 10, 2004. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Darrell Hill carries his belongings out of the team training facility Jan. 11, 2004 after their season ended in the AFC divisional playoff loss to the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., the night before. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

Tennessee Titans tight end Frank Wycheck, who is retiring from the NFL, laughs with reporters after cleaning out his locker at the team training facility Jan. 11, 2004. The Titans season ended with a divisional playoff loss to the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., the night before. George Walker IV / The Tennessea

In this case, the guy on the chair is scout team tight end Tim Semisch, who at 6-foot-8 and 275 pounds is actually taller and heavier than Gronkowski. But that’s where any reasonable comparison ends.

Semisch caught 10 passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns during his college career at Northern Illinois. He entered the NFL as an undrafted tryout player with Miami in 2015 and spent time on practice squads with the Dolphins and Chargers before joining the Titans last offseason.

Semisch said he studies the same film as the Titans’ defense, and his Gronk impersonation has included lining up at tight end, receiver and fullback.

“I’m trying to give these guys the best look I can, trying to mirror his play,” Semisch said, “and they’ve done a great job all week of trying to shut me down.”

It has not included a touchdown celebration.

“I didn’t want to rub anyone the wrong way or start any rifts at practice,” Semisch said, laughing, “so I didn’t do any Gronk spikes.”

Tennessee has struggled to cover tight ends this season. Opponents threw to the tight end against the Titans more than any other team, per Football Outsiders, and the Titans allowed more yards per game to tight ends (59.7) than any other team in the playoffs.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in the first half of last week’s wild-card matchup against the Titans before being knocked out of the game with a concussion.

“You have your blockers and then you have your pass-receiving tight ends,” said Titans coach Mike Mularkey, who played the position for nearly a decade with the Vikings and Steelers. “And then very few guys can do what he does as well as he does. That puts him in a different class.”

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